Improvement in clothes-wringers



d www s.w. XL1. F. PALMER.

Improvement in Clothes Wrngers.

Patented Dec. 5, 1871.

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEroE.

SIDNEY W. PALMER AND J. FOREMAN PALMER, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOTHES-WRINGERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 121,657, dated December 5, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SIDNEY W. PALMER and J. FOREMAN PALMER, of Auburn, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wringers; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description th reof, reference being had to the accompanyi' g drawing making a part of this specification, in which- Figure lis afront elevation of our device. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the upper side of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the inner side of saiddevice. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section of the rollers and frame. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the cam-levers used for applying to said rollers the pressure of the springs. Fig. 7 is a like view of the spring-holder, and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the frame end detached.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

Our invention is an improvement upon a class of devices termed wriugers used for expressing water from washed clothing; and it consists principally in the peculiar construction of the wooden roller, and in the means employed for securing the same to or upon its shaft, substantially as is hereinafter shown. It consists, further, in the peculiar construction of the cam-levers employed for adjusting the inward pressure of the rollers, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth. It consists, further, in the construe` tion and combination of the cam-levers, links, and springs, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown and described. It consists, further, in the construction and combination of the links, springs, and boxes, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified. It consists, further, in the peculiar construction and combination of the springs and holder, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown. It consists, further, in combination, with the springs and their holder, of an adjustable tension-screw, substantially .as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth. It consists, further, in the peculiar construction of the shed bymeans of which water is prevented from dripping upon the springs, substantially as is hereinafter shown and described. It consists, further, in the construction and combination ofthe clamp, the adjustable pivotal-bolt, and the set-screw, substantially as and for the purposehereinafterspecified. Itconsists, further, in combining with said clamp and pivotal bolt a rubber band, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified. It consists, nally, in the guards for preventing the clothes from passing outward from between the ends of the rollers, substantially as is hereinafter set forth.

In the annexed drawing, A represents one of the metal ends of the frame, provided at or near its center', vertically, with a semicircular bearing, B, from which extends upward an opening, (l, having toward its upper end parallel sides, within and between which is fitted a movable box or bearing, D. The lower portion of said frame is provided with a second opening, E, the object of which will be hereinafter explained; while from its inner face, and near its lower end, extends horizontally inward a lug, F, by means of which said frame is attached to or upon a wooden bar, G. Within the frame thus constructed is placed a drivin g-roller, H, the projecting ends of its shaft I being iitted to and resting within the boxesB; while a second roller, K, is placed above and in contact with said roller H, and has the ends of its shaft L contained within the boxes D, the latter being placed above said shaft. Fitted over the box E, and between suitable lugs a upon the outer face of the frame A, is an open metal strap, M, (having the forin shown in Fig. 4,) the lower end of which embraces the projecting end of a spring, N, that is placed against the lower side of the bar Gr at its center; and from thence ex tends outward and sutliciently downward so as to exert a downward pressure upon said strap, and through the saine and said box D upon the upper roller K, and holds the latter firmly against and upon the lower roller H. In order that the pressure of the spring upon the upper roller may be suddenly increased when desired, a cam-lever, O, is tted to or upon the upper end of the straps in suchposition that, when the free end of said lever is turned outward, its camshaped end O shall bear upon the upper side of the box D and raise said strap. A flattened place, o, upon the cam end O of the lever enables the latter to be sustained in position midway between its least and greatest enlargement. Fitted loosely within a slot provided within the lug a is the squared head of a bolt, P, which from thence extends horizontally and diagonally outward, and is provided upon its outer endwitha nut, p. A clamp or jaw,

Q, having the t'orin shown in Fig. 4. is placed over the outer end ot' the bolt l. where it is held in position by means ot' the uut p. Nearthe up per end otl said .jaw is a set-screw. li, which passes through a suitable threaded opening within the same, and has its inner end hearing against the contiguous portion ol' the l'ramc A\.

As thus constructed it will he seen that, it the set-screw R he turned inward. the upper end otl thejaw or clamp will be tort-cd outward and its lower endinward so astocontineanythingplaced between the same and the corresponding portion ot' the frame.

Upon the upper end ol' the clamp() is l'ormcd ahookn, around which. and around a corresponding hook, r', i'ormcd upon the contiguous portion ot' the frame. is placed a rubber strap. S. the ottiee ot' which is to hold in place aml draw inward the upper end ot' said elamp.and.using' tlicsetscrew R t'ora t'ulcrulu, press the lowerend ot` said clamp outward so as to enable it to be more readily passed over the edge otA a tub.

One end otl the shal't l being provided with a crank, the machine is secured upon the edge ol' i a tub, and operated in the usual manner by rotating the rollersand passing the wet clothing hetween the same. When unusually thick clothing is to be wrung the ca1n-levers may be turned inward so as to give the least possible inward pressure upon the rollers. Vvhen clothing o1 a less thicknessis to be wrung said levers may be turned outward until the llattened place o oi' each rests upon the box oi` the upper roller, and the pressY ure is somewhat increased; but in case ot very thin fabrics said levers should be turned outward until the largest portion ot' each cam bears upon the boxesand the t'ull t'orce ot'the spring is thrown upon the rollers.

Asthe cost ot' a spring and its liabilitytobreakage incl'eases with its length it becomes important to decrease the original cost ot' the spring N. and lessen the expense ol its removal. il' necessary, to which end the t'olhwing-described means are employed: A metal plate. T, haring the l'orm shown in Fig. T. is provided upon either side and at its edges with two tianges. lv. which extend longitudinallyv outwal'd in eithel' direction trom the center ot' said plate, and are each provided at or within their ends with notches u. which cor respond in vertical dimensions to the thickness ofthe spring. lvpon the lower side ot' said plate, near each end. is provided a stud, t. which extends vertically downward to a distance slightly greater than the thickness otA said spring. The spring is now made in two sections, the innerends ot' which are placed within the notches n; while suitable correslmnding openings provided in and through each section receive the studs t and insure the lateral position ol' the parts. arranged the springs are easily' detached t'rom their holder; but when attached thereto are eapable ot' sustaining as great an upward pressure as though formed from one piece ot' metal. A screw, V, passing upward tln'ough a correspondingly-threaded opening within the spring-holder, with its upper end bearing against the lower side of the bar Gr enables the tension ot' the spring to he increased at will. The spring and its attachments are protected from the dripping water by means ot' a bead or tlange,g, which is secured to and extends down 'ard from either side ot' the bar the ct'l'cet oi' said tlanges being to cause the water to drop from their lower edges instead oi' passing' inward beneath said bar.

ln orderto prevent the clothes t'rompassingoutward beyond the ends ot the rollers a lug, te, is extended hoiizontally inward trom corresponding sides oi' each trame end A near their upper ends. and contains and supports one end ol' a metal rod. which ti'om thence passing' verticA ally downward has its lower end secured within the lug l". the whole l'orming a guide t'or the inwardly-passing tabrics and an et'l'ectual guard against the further outward passage ol' the saine in a lateral direction.

ln constructing the lower or drivingroller an opening slightly smaller than the shalt is bored in and through the block of wood from which said roller is to be made, said opening and the shai't are then coated with coal-tar, and the latter warmed and driven into the former; at'ter which said wood is turned to size and shape.

Une end ot' a brass wire, I1., is now secured around a tinned or galvanized-iron nail, and the latter driven into the roller near one end; alter which said wire is wound tightly around said As thus i l l l roller until the same is suiiciently strengthened, when the opposite end ot' said wire is secured as bet'ore.

ln applying the wire to the roller the ends of the latter should be wound; but, if desired, the body ot' said roller may remain unwound except at its center. lt is believed, however, that the plan shown is most advantageous.

ly this construction ot' awringcr we secure the hereinat'ter-named advantagesin addition to those bet'ore named. First, we avoid the expense of rubber t'or the lowerroller; while, by a slightincrease in the size and thickness o1' the upper roller, is secured an equal it' not greater degree otI elasticity than is usually deemed essential. Second, the lower wooden roller is secured upon its shatt more lirmly than would be possible were rubber employed; and thereby we are enabled to use said rolh as a driver, and dispense with the expense and friction ot' gearing. ln addition to which this lnethod of operating the rollers renders their relative sizes ot' no importance; while in the geared rollers the slightest dit't'erenee in size will prevent their contiguous surfaces troni moving with a unit'orm velocity7 and cause slipping and wear. Third, the method of constructing and combining the springsmaterially lessens their original cost, and involves less expense for repairs in ease ot' breakage. Fourth, the con struction ot' the clamps, and the employment thereon ot' the rubber bands insures at all times the proper position of the former with their lower ends open and ready for engagement with the tub.

Having thus t'ully set forth the nature and merits ot' our invention, what we claim as new, 1s

1. The wooden roller H, constructed as described and secured upon its shaft I, in the manner substantially as shown.

2. The cam-lever O, provided with the cam O and attened portion o, in combination With the box D, with the connecting-link, and with the spring N, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The cam-levers O, the links M, and the spring' N, combined substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

4. The boxes B and D, the cam-levers O, the links M, and the spring N, When the several parts are constructedand combined, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The springdlolder T, provided with the ilanges U, notches u, and studs t, in combination with the spring,1 N substantially* as and for the purpose shown.

6. In combination With the spring N and holder T the adjustable tension-screw V, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. l

7. The Wooden bar G, provided With the beads or flanges g, and combined with the spring N and its attachments, substantially as aid for the purpose shown and described.

8. The bolt P, the clamp or jaw Q, and the setscrew R, when constructed and combined with each other and with the frame A, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. In combination with the bolt l), jaw Q provided with the hooked end 1, setscrew R, and frame A provided with the hook 1^', the rubber band S, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

l0. In combination with the frame end A, provided with the lugs F and w, and with the rollers H and K, the guards W, when constructed substantially as and for the purpose shown.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing We have hereunto set our hands this 21st day of Sep telnber, 1871.

SIDNEY W. PALMER. J. FOREMAN PALMER.

Witnesses HORACE F. CooK, JOHN G. HosMEn. 

